Meet the NYC Marathon Winners: 3 'Beginners,' 3 Moms & an American!

The 2010 New York City Marathon is over for some of its fastest runners. And I don't know about them, but I'm exhausted. Seriously -- that was one emotionally draining race. The results for the top three finishers in the women's race were, in this order: Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, AmericanShalane Flanagan (shout out to Marblehead, Massachusetts!), andMary Keitany, also of Kenya.Their winning times were: 2:28:20; 2:28:40; and 2:29:01, respectively.

The amazing thing about all three of these women? It was thefirst time any of them had run the New York City Marathon, and it was Flanagan's first marathon ever.

Also of relevance: An American woman hasn't won the New York Marathon since 1977, and for a while, it looked like Shalane Flanagan was going to take first. I know, I know, the marathon isn't about countries, it's about individuals. But I confess, I really wanted her to win. That didn't happen -- but she still did America (and herself) proud.

Shalane Flanagan, 29, grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and is the daughter of two accomplished runners. Her mother, Cheryl Bridges Treworgy, is a former marathon world record holder, and her dad, Steve Flanagan, was a U.S. World Cross Country Champion participant and marathon runner. Shalane won the bronze medal in the 2008 OlympicWomens 10000m Finals in Beijing, setting a new American record. Today's New York City Marathon was the first time she's run a marathon. Shalane is married to Steven Ashley Edwards, with whom she has a son.

Mary Keitany, 28, is a long distance runner from Keyna who won a silver medal at the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships. She became the World Half Marathon champion in 2009. Her personal best of 1:06:36 in the half marathon is the second fastest of all time. Today marked Keitnay's first-ever New York Marathon run. She's married to Kenyan athlete Charles Koech, and is mom to two-year-old Jared Kipchumba.